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I don't know too much about Nexon tyres but I think they're a Korean brand - I vaguely remember seeing them in the US a couple of years ago but decided against them because they were a little bit too cheap for comfort.  I always try to get four matching tyres if possible, by a recognised brand.  My last three cars have used Pirelli P Zero branded tyres and everything else has been either Dunlop, Bridgestone, Good Year or Yokohama - no problems with any of them.  However, some years ago I ran a Fiat Coupe 16v turbo on Pirelli P Zero Neros.  After a front wheel puncture, I tried to replace the tyre and found that it was seemingly out of stock everywhere and the nearest match that Kiwk Fit could provide was a slightly cheaper GoodYear Eagle F1.  The handling changed dramatically and accelerating hard in the wet caused the front end to behave very oddly.  In the end Kwik Fit gave me a refund and I waited 2 weeks for the P Zero to arrive instead.  Looking at the 2 tread patterns, the Good Year one was completely different from the Pirelli and I think this can cause problems.

On my Legacy I tend to use Bridgestone Potenzas, and the Impreza with Michelin Pilots. I ran the Impreza once on a 'no name' tire once, and would never do it again.

Are cheap tyres dangerous?

No, used in the right situation.  Yes if you aren't advised correctly when fitment is done.

Any good tyre dealer will insist that you fit the tyre with the most tread - hence newest - to the front of the vehicle as the steering and the majority of the braking is done from the front.  Also in the case of a less grippy tyre (such as you experienced), the car will understeer, instead of oversteer.  Therefore, they are perfectly safe if used in pairs on the front axle, or as a complete fitment.

In general it all comes down to the construction of the tyre and the compound of the rubber used.

I have played a lot with tyres and have generally found that the "budget brands" have far less grip than their premium rivals.  This is great when you want to "set a car up" to oversteer but for every day driving, it can be dangerous as their break of traction is done in a less than progressive fashion!

It comes back to the old saying, you get what you pay for, and no where more than tyre terms is this true. 

Just had all four replaced on my 159, the fronts were down to the wear indicators the rears not far off them. Took Pirrelli P Zero Rosso off (fitted new when car bought), replaced with Continental Sport Contact. Completely different feel to them.

I would not put cheap tyres on my car, the best option is to look for deals on quality branded tyres. Replaced all four on the wifes Corsa 6 months ago with Avon's buy one get one free at National Tyre.

This would really piss me off and I would be inclined to go back to the dealer where you bought it from. In my view, and it is just an opinion, I would never put different makes of tyres on at the same time. Actually, being a belt and braces kind of guy, I always replace the backs when the fronts need replacing i.e. I always buy four even if only two are really needed in order to maintain uniform handling.

I'd be curious as to why a, not particularly high performing front wheel drive car, at most 11 months on the road, with just 4000 miles, has two different rear tyres to the front. 

OK, punctures happen, but would anyone really replace both tyres with a cheaper brand, when only replacing the actual punctured one with the same, or at worst a very similar tyre, is necessary...unless of course the previous owner was unlucky enough to get two punctures in short order?

Both rear alloys nicked at the same time?  Dunno.

Anyway, to answer your question, yes cheap tyres can be dangerous, but as mentioned above there is more to it than that.  Personally I'd want to get to the bottom of why and how those tyres ended up on the car.

It saddens/worries me when you see relatively new & expensive (ie not bangers) cars on "budget", dare I say it, third world tyres

Up here the weird stuff private taxis (skodas) use is amazing never knew there were so many brands of tyre

Potential article for the mag? compare effects of laptimes at dry/wet handling track budget/midprice/premium tyre on a sub £20k car or cars?

Douglas Jardine:

It saddens/worries me when you see relatively new & expensive (ie not bangers) cars on "budget", dare I say it, third world tyres

Up here the weird stuff private taxis (skodas) use is amazing never knew there were so many brands of tyre

Potential article for the mag? compare effects of laptimes at dry/wet handling track budget/midprice/premium tyre on a sub £20k car or cars?

It's been done before.

I'd rather see the taxi's racing though. 

Autoexpress do group tests of tyres annually - those issues are worth seeking out. 

nom de plum:

I'd rather see the taxi's racing though. 

Visit Glasgow's St Vincent St on a Friday or Saturday night and you won't be disappointed - speed of over 50mph are reached between sets of traffic lights. They also do a slalom course around groups of drunks spilling out of the pubs.  

Blimey a local!

Ten pin bowling with drunks.

I'd pay to see that.